Image courtesy of Ben Beiske After a few harshly-learnt lessons myself, I know the sheer importance of travel insurance. After being stranded in Paris over Christmas when the Eurostar broke down (worse than it sounds!), and getting stuck in the Algarve with no money when my purse was stolen; the few dollars I now shell out for insuring my travels is the most important purchase I make. Make sure you know wha ...

[caption id="attachment_4722" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Image courtesy of Spa Breaks"][/caption] When you are on a cheap backpacking holiday the last thing on your mind would be a spa break but actually they can be very relaxing and do not have to cost a lot. Cheap spa breaks, whether just a day at a spa hotel or a homemade spa break in the hostel you are staying in can be an essential unwind ...

I know I've written a few posts about coffee lately but I can't help myself. It may be because I normally drink a cup of coffee when I write my posts on Sunday mornings. I just can't get enough of it! [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Source; dailyshotofcoffee.com"][/caption] Below are some interesting coffee facts for you. I hope you learn something new along the way just like I did : ...

Busy schedules are no secret to most people these days. Whether you're running from one place to another, stressed out at work or simply exhausted, it's easy to lose track. But for each one of us, there are those little moments throughout the day that put a smile on our faces. We may not think much of them, but it's enough to make us secretly happy. Below are some moments that make me happy without even rea ...

Now that I've been back at work for 5 months, I'm reminiscing on my 3-week trip to Tanzania last December/January. My second solo backpacking trip, first one in Africa, was a complete success! The greatest achievement of all was reaching the Kilimanjaro summit, fourth of the top seven summits in the world. It was tough but I accomplished it. It was a once in a lifetime experience I will never forget, but ha ...

Attention to travel experts! I'm normally the one giving travel advice to others but this is where I turn to you for help! Upon my return from Africa, I was debating about traveling to either Colombia or Mongolia. But, I may have changed my mind! Ooops! Although I really want to visit Mongolia, I early on decided that I have no desire to freeze my butt in Mongolia this winter. Especially after having a simi ...

What's better than watching an international movie on a rainy day? Not much! Ok, maybe a nap after watching a movie. With no desire to go out in the rain and feeling kind of lazy, I watched Im Juli (German for In July), a German movie I never previously heard of. With no expectation prior to watching the movie, I now recommend it to all of you who enjoy international movies with a touch of adventure. Im Jul ...

When I was visiting a Masai tribe in Tanzania this winter, my guide/translator snapped a picture of me that I absolutely fell in love with! It's those small moments that make all the difference when you're traveling. [caption id="attachment_4565" align="aligncenter" width="430" caption="Visiting a Masai tribe in Tanzania"][/caption] ...

I never thought I'd be writing a recipe on my blog. But when I was visiting Bahia in Brazil last winter, I fell in love with one of their traditional dishes called moqueca de camarão. You'll find this dish on almost every menu in Bahia and you absolutely cannot leave the region without trying it. Now, for those of you who have been to Brazil, I'm sure you quickly noticed how most of their dishes are accompa ...

Remember the last email I received from my friend Matt who's currently backpacking Africa? (If you don't, you can read Diaries of Matthew Backpacking Africa). Well here is the last email I'll be receiving from his travels in Africa. I'm looking forward to meeting up with him in the next few weeks! Last time I saw him was January, during a brunch where I was sharing my Kilimanjaro experience and him, getting ...